Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from May 2007

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from May 2007

Comprehensive Energy Services Inc.(Contractors)
May 21, 2007... Comprehensive Energy Services Inc. (Longwood, Fla.) hired Scott Wallick, former district manager of Siemens Florida, as vice president of statewide service operations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Linc Group LLC (Irvine, Calif.) acquired Sundown Lighting & Electric.(Contractors)
May 21, 2007... The Linc Group LLC (Irvine, Calif.) acquired Sundown Lighting & Electric (Lake Forest, Calif.).

The Taylor Company.(Manufacturers)
May 21, 2007... The Taylor Company, a division of Carrier Commercial Refrigeration (Rockton, Ill.), named Emerson Climate Technologies' Hartselle, Ala., and Sidney, Ohio, plants in its Supplier Performance Top Ten.

GE ECM by Regal-Beloit.(Manufacturers)
May 21, 2007... GE ECM by Regal-Beloit (Fort Wayne, Ind.) redesigned its ECM variable-speed motor Website, www.thedealertoolbox.com.

Emerson Network Power (Columbus, Ohio) released two Liebert white papers.(Manufacturers)
May 21, 2007... Emerson Network Power (Columbus, Ohio) released two Liebert white papers addressing how to curb rising data center energy and operational costs.

LSB Industries Inc.(Financial Reports)
May 21, 2007... LSB Industries Inc.'s (Oklahoma City) 2007 first-quarter net sales increased 32 percent to $147.4 million from $111.9 million.

Dectron Internationale Inc.(Financial Reports)
May 21, 2007... Dectron Internationale Inc.'s (Montreal) total sales rose 13.8 percent to $65,006 during the fiscal year that ended Jan. 31. It is up $7,892 from 2006.

ABB.(Financial Reports)
May 21, 2007... ABB's (Zurich, Switzerland) first-quarter net income rose 163 percent to $537 million from $204 million in the same period of 2006.

Data-Basics' (Cleveland) SAM Pro Enterprise software was chosen. (Little Rock, Ark.).(Software)
May 21, 2007... Data-Basics' (Cleveland) SAM Pro Enterprise software was chosen by William A. Harrison Inc. (Little Rock, Ark.).

Another season of A/C thefts? Criminals are again looking for copper.
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Even though copper prices have not necessarily risen to alarming heights, theft of air conditioners appears to be on the rise--again. As a result, it could be a long, hot summer--in more ways than one--for many...

Believers say zoning is catching on.(FOCUS: ZONING PRODUCTS & SYSTEMS)
May 21, 2007... It all depends upon whom you talk to, but many industry insiders believe zoning is catching on with contractors across the country. At the same time, dealers who are building their businesses with zoning are enjoying the higher profit margins...

Correction.(Correction notice)
May 21, 2007... In the April 30 issue, the wrong picture ran with the United CoolAir MiniCool ductless system product snapshot. The correct picture is below. The NEWS regrets this error. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

It's a common mistake in math.(Clarifying Numbers to Reach a Better Gross Margin)(Letter to the editor)
May 21, 2007... [Editor's note: In the column "Divide and Conquer," April 30, there was a misleading calculation. Below are letters that discuss how to correctly perform the math.] The teacher in me must comment on the excellent comments about markup...

What's the inverse of that number?(Clarifying Numbers to Reach a Better Gross Margin)(Letter to the editor)
May 21, 2007... I very much enjoyed Mike Murphy's editorial on Murphy' Law, "Divide and Conquer." Your insight on gross margin was very powerful. I did want to take a moment to point out that 0.64 is not the inverse 0.36. The 0.64 factor is a result...

Distinction between markup and margin.(I Clarifying Numbers to Reach a Better Gross Margin)(Letter to the editor)
May 21, 2007... Mike Murphy's analysis regarding margin percentage is correct. Dick Harshaw should have pointed out that there is a dramatic difference between "markup" and the concept of "margin." Markup says, "What number do I need to multiply times my...

Climate change.(Cartoon)
May 21, 2007... Good news and bad news. They didn't get your copper. But they got one of your Gator logos. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

HVAC industry numbers send mixed messages.(newsline)
May 21, 2007... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Combined U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for March totaled 636,199, up 65 percent from last month's total, but down 12 percent from March 2006 shipments, according to the...

Ruud awards top contractors.(newsline)
May 21, 2007... FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Ruud named the 2006 Ruud Reliable Top 10 Top Contractors. These winners achieved the highest sales figures during the year across the United States. Mid-Florida Air Conditioning of DeBary, Fla., beat three repeat-Top 10...

HVAC Excellence (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) presented John Easley, state coordinator for trade and industry programs, Louisiana Community and Technical College System.(Education)
May 21, 2007... HVAC Excellence (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) presented John Easley, state coordinator for trade and industry programs, Louisiana Community and Technical College System, with the Prometheus award; and Steven Allen, director of HVACR education and...

The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) awarded Larry Howington, Hill Phoenix.(Organizations)
May 21, 2007... The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) awarded Larry Howington, Hill Phoenix; Gary Kaiser, Standard Refrigeration Co.; Gerald Peck, Lennox International Inc.; and Bill Walter, Carrier Corp., with its inaugural Standards...

Business Roundtable.(Organizations)(Discussion)
May 21, 2007... Business Roundtable (Washington) named Richard Keyser, chairman and CEO of W.W. Grainger Inc., as chairman of its Partnership for Disaster Response Task Force.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).(Organizations)
May 21, 2007... The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) appointed Jeremy Stamkos, managing director of Enviroair Pty. Ltd., as its Region 11 coordinator.

ARI, GAMA's merger talks.(newsline)(Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute)(Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association )(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... ARLINGTON, Va. -- At its April 21 meeting, the executive committee of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute's (ARI's) board of directors voted to continue exploring a merger with the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA)....

PHCC meets on Capitol Hill for Legislative Conference.(newsline)(Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Experts ranging from Capitol Hill lobbyists to customer service experts all stressed the importance of advocacy to the 160 contractors and chapter executives attending the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors -- National...

ICOR Tech team becomes NATE certified.(newsline)(North American Technician Excellence )(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... INDIANAPOLIS -- All members of ICOR International Inc.'s technical support staff, known as the Tech-2-Tech team, are now North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified. ICOR's support services include conducting dozens of onsite...

Automated field service software.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jonas Mobile allows field service technicians to interact directly with the Jonas dispatch and accounting solution from the field. Using a PDA device, technicians are able to accept and update work orders from the...

Wireless sensor network software.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A3 technology is the underlying software that allows the company's wireless sensor networks to operate. It eliminates the common problem of poor reliability in sensor data transmission caused by other radio frequency...

Modular heat pump.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ASP20 Airstack[TM] modular air-to-water heat pump is designed for two-pipe HVAC systems. Available in a 20-ton module size, the heat pump can be used singly or in a multiple configuration for applications...

Design software online training.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... Right-University is an online resource featuring a library of on-demand training modules on the company's HVAC design software. Its on-demand training videos were created to provide customers with easy-to-follow video instruction on the...

IAQ Products.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Residential IAQ products are available for all of the manufacturer's unitary product brands--York[R], Luxaire[R], Coleman[R], and Source 1[R]--through Source 1. The Elite Steam Humidifier offers 120 and 230 V and...

Ventilation Software.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... The user-friendly 62.1-2004 Comply software suite can accomplish significant reductions in ventilation air (outdoor air) requirements by improving the ventilation efficiency of poor efficiency building zones, stated the company. These...

Heat pumps and air conditioners.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new line of 14 SEER straight-match heat pumps and air conditioners achieves an efficiency of 11.5 EER without variable speed or two-stage compressors. With the addition of variable speed, the product achieves 15...

Residential water heaters.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Two new high-output residential gas water heaters are available. Both the M-I 60-gallon and M-4 60-gallon models offer a 40,000-Btuh input with a 90-gallon first-hour delivery. These conventional vent products are...

Portable gas detector.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Various infrared (IR) cartridge options are available for the multigas Lumidor Impact Pro IR portable gas detector. One of three IR sensors can be chosen as one of the four sensors that come standard in a...

Cooler, freezer door monitor.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The patented DAC-55 door monitor is a functionally integrated device for monitoring doors on walk-in coolers and freezers. Using magnetic contacts to sense door status, the monitor combines a time-adjustable audible...

Soldering and brazing products.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... The Extreme Series torches, with patented Extreme Swirl technology, completely turns the fuel inside the flame tube, resulting in a pure working flame that is non-oxidizing and noncarbonizing. It burns hotter and cleaner, according to the...

Bathroom fans.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The A647B and MM647B bathroom fans have the patent-pending Quick-Mount installation system, which reduces labor costs with its simple assembly, stated the company. The integral mounting screws are placed on the steel...

Carrying strap.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The JugLugger[TM] carrying device is specifically designed to help contractors carry small cylinders and other heavy gear. According to the company, it is tough, lightweight, and connects quickly to refrigerant,...

Heat pump wiring extender.(what's new)
May 21, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Fast-Stat Model 7000 wiring extender provides super fast air conditioner to heat pump conversions by eliminating the need to repull thermostat or condenser cables. The three-part kit includes a "sender" that is...

What makes the difference? It's what is stopped, not started.(business management)
May 21, 2007... There is never a bad time to get going on the things we've ignored for too long. To do things that are good for us, like dieting. Incidentally, a current study says that health club memberships are at an all-time high, even though the amount...

Contractor gains edge by going green.(contractor profile)
May 21, 2007... BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- When it came time to build a better mousetrap, Shawn Stark decided to go green--green technology that is. The president of Stark's Plumbing & Heating Inc. was looking to add another location to its existing service and...

Thermal applications: pumps, fans, compressors.(service & maintenance)
May 21, 2007... Pumps, fans, compressors, and other motor-driven rotating equipment are essential to manufacturing, commercial, and institutional enterprises, from fluid-handling systems in petrochemical plants to large air comfort systems in shopping malls....

Contractors talk issues.(industry news)
May 21, 2007... SAN ANTONIO -- Are issues facing contractors in the San Antonio area any different than those faced in other parts of the United States? The NEWS wanted to know and recently assembled a group of contractors for a roundtable discussion of issues...

ZoneFirst: try zoning before knocking it.(FOCUS: ZONING PRODUCTS & SYSTEMS)
May 21, 2007... Richard Foster was definitely perplexed. "It continues to amaze It me how the world is accepting zoning in so many ways, yet the residential and light commercial world of HVAC continues to ignore the many advantages forced-air zoning provides,"...

Contractors benefit by showinq, telling zoning.(FOCUS: ZONING PRODUCTS & SYSTEMS)
May 21, 2007... Mike Herrington will be the first to tell you that zoning is a big part of his business at Gainesville (Ga.) Mechanical. "In 2006, zoning sales accounted for approximately 10 percent of our total revenue for the year," said the vice president...

Get the best results from a home show.(business management)
May 21, 2007... Every year contractors across the country sign up to attend a home show. If you are planning to be one of them, remember to do your homework before the event to make it really pay off. There is more involved than just standing on your feet for...

Speakers share views to keep employees happy.(conference update)
May 21, 2007... CLEVELAND -- Attendees to one of the many seminars at the recent Affordable Comfort Institute (ACI) Home Performance Conference in Cleveland got an earful on the subject of retaining and keeping employees happy. The seminar was titled...

Packaging, selling whole-house solutions.(conference update)
May 21, 2007... CLEVELAND -- Giving a customer a price on replacement HVAC equipment is one thing, giving them the price of a whole-house solution is another. Yet there are many potential customers out there who probably need a lot more than a new furnace or...

It does take a village to raise HVACR technicians.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)(Editorial)
May 21, 2007... Sometimes persistence does pay off. For some time now, I have been informing a 19-year-old son of a friend of mine that the HVACR industry could use his services. He admitted that he was attending a local community college "just to go to...

You better believe that everything matters.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)
May 21, 2007... Have you ever done something while on the job and shrugged it off, saying, "Oh well, they'll never notice it" or "It was always like this, why should I change it now?" I remember several years ago when I was a delivery/setup man for a...

HVACR contractors diversify to meet changing markets.(business management)
May 28, 2007... "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" is a great proverb about risk. Although it starts with the idea of someone carrying eggs to sell at market, it's still appropriate in today's economy. If all your eggs (your customers) are in one basket...

HVAC CEOs 'belly up to the bar'.(VIDEO SPOTLIGHT)
May 28, 2007... ORLANDO, Fla. -- Members of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) had a chance to see the CEOs of four major HVAC manufacturing companies "let their hair down" at an informal chat session hosted by Mike Murphy, editor-in-chief of...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
May 28, 2007... In the April 16 issue of The NEWS, the Cooling Showcase article should have identified the AAON product as the CB condensing unit (optional heat pump). The NEWS regrets this error. The Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) was one...

Show them this is the best industry in the world.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 28, 2007... As I read the letter "No Wonder There's a Shortage of New Techs" in the April 9, 2007 issue, I took great offense with the writer's view. I'm a contractor in the Virgin Islands who came from Rhode Island, where it is extremely tough to get...

Technicians today are looking for more.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 28, 2007... Roy McCoy may be off by five years. A lot of us wanted to retire at 55 because everything [including parts] is falling apart now. The tech school grads are smart like McCoy said, but they can't pipe. It takes a long time to learn. I think...

Project files: school districts.(the NEWS)
May 28, 2007... COMPANY: TAC, Carrollton, Texas INSTALLATION: Central Monitoring and Control System COMPLETION: Scheduled for July 2007 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CUSTOMER: The Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) OBJECTIVE: Manage...

Associations unite on net zero goals.(newsline)
May 28, 2007... ATLANTA -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Architecture 2030, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and the U.S. Green...

Wrightsoft announces second competition.(newsline)
May 28, 2007... LEXINGTON, Mass. -- Wrightsoft Corp. announced the second annual Wrightsoft Design Competition to recognize excellence in HVAC system design through innovative use of Right-Suite Universal[TM] software. Entries will be accepted June 1-Dec. 1,...

AAON.(Price Increases)
May 28, 2007... AAON (Tulsa, Okla.) increased prices up to 7 percent on select products, effective June 1.

Environmental Technologies.(Price Increases)
May 28, 2007... Environmental Technologies (Largo, Fla.) increased prices 2-4 percent, effective on orders released after Aug. 11, 2007.

Emerson Climate Technologies.(Manufacturers)
May 28, 2007... Emerson Climate Technologies (St. Louis) promoted John Sperino as vice president, general counsel, and secretary. He will provide counsel and oversee all legal affairs for the company. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Hart & Cooley.(Manufacturers)
May 28, 2007... Hart & Cooley (Grand Rapids, Mich.) has completed construction of its new headquarters and will be moving from the Holland, Mich., location this month.

International Barrier Technology Inc.(Financial Reports)
May 28, 2007... International Barrier Technology Inc.'s (Watkins, Minn.) sales revenue, directly from the commercial modular sector, increased 291 percent to $227,983, while volume shipped was up 272 percent.

ESCO Institute.(Education)
May 28, 2007... ESCO Institute (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) joined the Green Mechanical Council (GreenMECH).

Future Facilities (London) partnered with Emerson Network Power.(Services)
May 28, 2007... Future Facilities (London) partnered with Emerson Network Power (Columbus, Ohio) allowing the company and its Liebert business access to 6SigmaDC software.

S.A. Comunale, a wholly owned subsidiary of EMCOR Group Inc.
May 28, 2007... S.A. Comunale, a wholly owned subsidiary of EMCOR Group Inc. (Barberton, Ohio), opened in Washington D.C.

Managers go to Boot Camp.(newsline)
May 28, 2007... NORMAN, Okla. -- Johnson Controls prepared 20 territory managers (TMs) for marketing combat during the first 2007 York[R] Boot Camp at the company's corporate headquarters. The TMs who attended the specialized program participated in a variety...

New tech career brochure available.(newsline )(employment opportunity in HVAC industry)(Brief article)
May 28, 2007... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- A new brochure illustrating the benefits of a career as a HVACR technician is now available from the Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA). The "A 5 STAR Career in the HVACR Service Industry" brochure provides...

Cleaver-Brooks starts training program.(newsline)(Gonzales Manufacturing partnered with Victoria College to launch evening program to gain technicians)(Brief article)
May 28, 2007... GONZALES, Texas -- Gonzales Manufacturing, owned by Cleaver-Brooks, has partnered with Victoria College, Victoria, Texas, to create a training class for welders. This hands-on, accelerated evening course is in its second semester and already...

GPS-enabled mgmt application.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The TeleNav Track[TM] is an on-demand, comprehensive GPS-based workforce management solution. Features include location tracking, mileage tracking, wireless time sheets, alerts, and detailed location reporting to...

Truck bed cover.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... The Standard Edition (SE) truck bed cover offers a load-bearing surface capable of carrying up to 400 pounds of cargo. This no-drill, versatile, aluminum alloy truck bed cover weighs 70-90 pounds. The three-panel design allows for access to...

UVC fixture.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The DEF double-end UVC fixture is designed for HVAC systems. According to the manufacturer, the Standard Output version was designed by experienced users to easily install in most air handlers to irradiate surfaces...

Integrated cooling rack enclosure.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... The Liebert XDK, a Knurr rack enclosure with integrated cooling capabilities, is a 19-inch rack now available in the United States. It provides secure and reliable cooling for up to 17 kW of high-density electronics. The unit utilizes water as...

Replaceable blade tinner snips.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The patent-pending offset design MagSnips[TM] family of replaceable blade snips are available. The tinner snips include left- and straight-cut Model M2210 that is best used by the right hand, and right- and...

Troubleshooting training e-book.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The first in a series of electronic technician training handbooks, 20 HVACR Troubleshooting Problems: Volume 1, is available. The text presents troubleshooting scenarios that allow technicians to develop their...

Tankless water heaters.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new line of high output tankless water heaters certified by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is available. The new units are part of the 98 Series (also known as the 3237 Series) and are...

Climatic conditions transmitter.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The EE33 Series transmitters are designed for fast and reliable measurement of relative humidity, dew point temperature, absolute humidity, and six other climatic measuring quantities under the most demanding...

Particulate and chemical filter.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... The Purafilter[R]--OA (Outside Air) is a combination particulate and chemical filter. It is designed for use in high-occupancy commercial environments, such as hospitals, office buildings, and airports, in which the outdoor air quality is...

Air handler.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] E-Series enhanced model air handler, the next generation of horizontal DX fan coil units, is designed for use with the company's air distribution system. Improvements to the air handler include new leakproof and...

Germicidal lamps.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... The low-pressure standard, and high-output quartz UVC germicidal lamps are available. According to the company, they have been tested and validated to effectively perform for 17,000 hours (two years), when operated on the company's...

Gas sensor module.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The SensorChip-C[O.sub.2]-4P is a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems- (MEMS-) based carbon dioxide (C[O.sub.2]) gas sensor module, designed for the industrial gas-sensing arena. It can also be used for any C[O.sub.2]...

Replacement motors.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The MultiFit[TM] 42-frame replacement motors are engineered with the Multi-Mounting System[TM], which replaces all the common 42-frame bolt circle patterns in the HVAC market. By using these removable mounting studs,...

Vacuum collection system.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
May 28, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Super Collector E1.5 vacuum collection system is a portable collector designed for residential, residential multiunit buildings, and light commercial air duct cleaning projects. Features include a 1.5-hp motor, a...

Tips for great heat pump replacements.(FOCUS: UNITARY & LIGHT COMMERCIAL HEAT PUMPS)
May 28, 2007... When you are replacing an older heat pump system with one that offers today's innovations, there are many factors to consider to ensure that the customer receives the intended performance and system. This article outlines a 10-step process...